UMEK

The main man from Slovenia rolls out a massive new Toolroom Knights album

Uros welcome back to DMC WORLD young man, you are currently on Israeli shores I see whilst the UK is freezing yet again. Where is the party tonight?

“Huh, Dan you just woke me up in my hotel room in Tel Aviv and I haven’t got a slightest idea what the club is called. J Wait a second or two while I consult my homepage…well tonight I’m playing at Bitan 1, which is one of the best venues here. We landed on a nice sunny day at some 24 degrees. That’s a perfect weather, as like most polar bears I don’t like too much heat. J”

Massive news for you this week with the release of your Toolroom Knights album. 14 huge exclusives and two brand new original arrangements – talk us through the album and some of the highlights you are especially proud to get on there …

“It’s a 2 CDs mix compilation, my second installment in the Toolroom Knights series and it took me quite some time to mix it. One mix is a bit harder than the other one, but they both represent quite well what I’m doing as a deejay. I’ve included 42 tracks, produced a nice intro for each of the mixes, some 30 beats made of 150 loops and samples and in addition I also included 15 speeches to spice things a bit. I do that to create additional dynamic and make the transitions between tracks as smooth as possible. As you already mentioned, exclusive tracks add to one third of the playlist and if I have to pick one or two that I’m really glad I’ve included Siwell’s “Tech This Out” and Mike Vale’s “Burning”. I’d like to thank all artists that have contributed their tracks for the mix. They always support me in big numbers and every time that I announce I’m looking for some fresh music for a new compilation I’m doing, they send me lots of demos and exclusive tracks. Dropping Toolroom’s name definitely helps but the response is always good.”

How long did the album take to compile and how many tunes did you have to discard?

“All in all we’ve licensed some hundred tracks. As it took me quite some time to finish the job we had to drop some tracks I wanted to use in the beginning and clear some new ones that I wanted to include in the mixes three months later. I always prepare more tracks than necessary as all don’t fit in the mix. I might like a specific track but if it doesn’t work in the mix I have to drop it. I started working on this project back in December and then it was on hold throughout January when I took my annual month off – after that I embarked on a month long tour through America. Although the original plan was to mix these two puppies in the studio, I had to improvise a bit. Luckily the owners of the Clash club in Sao Paulo offered me their club for one afternoon and I mixed one of the CDs there and the other one also somewhere in Brazil, though I can’t remember exactly where that was.”

What is it about the Toolroom Knights sound you love that made the decision to get involved in this project so easy?

“I’ve been a fan of Toolroom even before we started to collaborate. They are a very strong team that has the power to expose their projects globally. They have a good reach and know how to release a product on the market in a way that most of the interested audience notices it. There might be labels that are cooler and trendier but they usually don’t have so much know how and that strong promotional channels as Toolroom does. I’ve already produced remixes, singles, a mix compilation as well as my last artist album with Beltek for them and as they always deliver hopefully will continue to collaborate in the future – although my sound is the least typical of all participating artists for what they promote but hopefully still close enough to fit in their context.”

You always love a good Miami WMC. Tell us about the bus adventure you put on this year … (http://mox.tv/video/moxbus-1605-miami13)

“This was a funny experience. J I didn’t know what to expect. This was a special pre-party gig on a packed bus. We were cruising around Miami and we had lots of fun. At first I was a bit skeptical about the whole thing moving and shaking thing, but everything went just fine music-wise, we laughed a lot and it was a nice overture into a long party night.”

What other parties did it for you this year, you admitted that you are still surprised to see the creativity of the promoters in Miami …

“Well, I didn’t do that much partying this year as Miami came at the end of my tour through America and I used the time in Miami mostly to relax, as I like to go there on vacation. I performed at Ultra Music Festival and we did our own sold out 1605 gig and that’s more or less everything, so I’m probably not the right person to talk you through this year’s WMC. J”

 What was the tune of the conference for you?

“As every time before I’ve got no idea. I play music that is not so mainstream, so I have no idea which tunes were canned the most. Usually it is some big house record with a good vocal.”

Word on the street is that there is a movement in the US EDM fraternity looking for more of a housey sound in 2013 – any thoughts on that, have the clubbers shifted their allegiance already?

“I’ve heard about this. I don’t know if it’s based on something substantial or not, but I’d like to believe that it is. J The American scene could turn in this direction as part of the audience is getting saturated with the sound of big name DJs that are headlining most of the big festivals for some time now and they are looking for something a bit different, maybe a little more challenging in the sounds. I get a lot of questions like this one in the interviews, especially in the USA, so it’s seems the scene is shifting in this direction.”

I once saw a superstar DJ who shall remain nameless feed a live parrot to an alligator at Miami WMC. Obviously the worse the wear! What was your funniest story of Miami 2013?

“Nothing really special this year. Riding that MOX bus was one of the things I’ll probably remember for years, though.”

A big gig for you last weekend near Budapest – how is the Hungary techno massive these days?

“Actually it was some two and a half hours out of the Budapest but it was a really nice one. I’m not surprised, as I have always loved to play in Hungary. The audience is well educated and they’ve always had a thing for my music. Right now they are also ridding high on success of their domestic producers such as Belocca, Jay Lumen, Chiqito and Gaga. I play their production a lot so the Hungarian sound has been strongly present in my playlists for some time now.”

What is the current top 10 you are spinning?

01. UMEK & Pleasurekraft  – Korea “1605“
02. DJ Entwan – Isn’t Possible “Solguz Recordings”
03. Stefano Noferini – Furios “1605“
04. Belocca – Depends on You “Mainground Music”
05. Carlos Perez & George Privatti – Happy Monkeys “La Pera Records”
06. DJ Wady & Tony Verdu – Claps Up You Dancing “Bedroom Muzik”
07. Paul Rodner – I Believe In My Dream “Bitten”
08. Chiqito – Oop Oop “Deeperfect Records”
09. Olivier Giacomotto & Simon Doty – 310-FUNK “Definitive Recordings”
10. Gabriel D’Or & Bordoy – Toia “Definitive Recordings”

Where are some of the big outdoor events you are looking forward to this summer – we are loving your Ljubljana central park parties …

“Party With A Cause in Ljubljana central park at the end of the summer festival season is one of the big gigs I looking forward to each year. In general, I really like summer festivals as each production crew is trying to add that little something special to their project so that no two festivals in Europe are the same. And now there’s also USA with their colossal productions. I’ve just returned from my South and North American tour that included performances at some really nice festivals, such as Ultra Music in Chile, Buenos Aires and Miami and Beyond Wonderland. And I just can’t wait to be back at Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas in June.”

Tell us some more about ‘Party With A Cause’ charity events …

“I’ve been involved in the Party for the Cause for almost a decade now. It’s an annual charity campaign with a big outdoor party in the Ljubljana central park with me as a sole headliner and we attract up to 30,000 people to dance with us every last Saturday in August. If you want to attend this party, you just have to send a SMS to donate 1 euro for the charity fund and the SMS you get back is a confirmation that the donation is valid as a ticket for this great party. We do this in partnership with a big telecommunication company and it’s always supported by a giant national media campaign that last for at least three months. We promote non-violence, social awareness and solidarity among young people, gather money for various charities helping young victims of criminal acts, kids fighting cancer and so on; we also provide scholarships to kids in need. As we have support of mayor, the president of state and many big companies we can really make a statement and get the message trough. Everybody in Slovenia knows about this project and many get involved, so we have already gathered a couple of hundred thousand euros for charity. It’s a national project, but everybody can get involved by spreading the message of non-violence and solidarity among young people – that’s a quite universal thing.”

Your best ever festival moment?

“Hard to say…one thing I’m enjoying right now is performing on central stages at big festivals in the USA. I’ve done that at Beyond Wonderland along Markus Schulz, David Guetta and Steve Angello and I’ll also play on the central stage at the EDC. These are the challenges that I like. I like to perform in front of big audiences that are not necessarily there for music that I promote. That’s an honor, a creative challenge and a big responsibility at the same time. Not every deejay gets the chance to present a bit more vanguard, alternative, underground music on the stage reserved for major hit-makers and it’s really important to face this kind of challenges in a way that you don’t compromise your own legacy and at the same time adapt a bit to the taste of the crowd in a way that people get rather intrigued with your sound than bored.”

 I love this quote from you: “New York City has thirty times more people than Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia but the weird thing is that the techno scene in Ljubljana is five times bigger than in NYC.” Do you think New York will ever lose let it’s house and hip hop crown slip?

“No, I don’t think the house and hip hop culture will vanish from New York as that’s a strong part of NYC’s musical and cultural identity, but New Yorkers have definitely developed a taste for techno in the last couple of years. Last year I performed in a packed techno arena at Electric Zoo and I did a gig at a sold out Webster Hall in early March, so things are getting better also for the more underground sounding electronic music. People respond very well to music that we play and I’ve already got some offers for future gigs in NYC, so I guess demand is growing. I don’t believe house and hip hop will die in New York but I guess the city is growing a taste for new sounds. You might still remember how business professionals predicted the USA audience would never develop a taste for electronic music on account of the strong hip hop scene, but see what state both scenes are now. Things change and probably we will see even more collaboration between both worlds, which is always good.”

Who are the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?

“I’ve already mentioned the Hungarians, there’s my fellow countryman Mike Vale and Colombian DJ Fronter…I’m focusing mostly on discovering and endorsing fresh names on the scene but this time I also have to mention one well established artist: German Eric Sneo has won my ears with track titled “System” that will be released on my 1605 label.”

 What is coming out next from the mighty Umek studio and 1605…?

“Yesterday I finished the collaboration I’m doing with the American DJ Dan. I still have to finally mix and master it and we have to choose the title. The next two releases on 1605 are Piatto’s “Work That” and Ant Brooks’ “Glide EP”, I’m working on a new collaboration with Mike Vale for 1605, but the main thing right now is putting together our 5 Years Anniversary compilation There are also some other projects I’m working on right now and I can confirm I’ve started producing a new artist album for a big Dutch label that should be finished at the end of the year.”

And finally dude, when was the last time you threw a three pointer?

“Last September. J But I’m sure I’ll throw the next one in the following ten days now that the spring finally arrived in our part of the world…”

Thank you dude. See you soon.

“Thanx for some interesting questions Dan. It’s always a pleasure.”

‘Toolroom Knights Mixed by UMEK 2.0’ is out now…

http://www.beatport.com/release/toolroom-knights-mixed-by-umek-2-0/1066466

TRACKLISTING (BOLD indicates exclusive tracks)

1	UMEK & Mike Vale	Fluid Feel	Original Club Mix
2	Siwell	Tech This Out	Original Club Mix
3	Mike Vale	Burning	Original Club Mix
4	UMEK	Love To Dance	Original Club Mix
5	Ant Brooks	Blasted	Original Club Mix
6	Cole Johnson	Sneak Out	Original Club Mix
7	Angelo Ferreri	Get It	Original Club Mix
8	Guille Placencia & George Privatti	Just Clipper	Original Club Mix
9	Fabio Ferro	Runnin’	Original Club Mix
10	Fran LK	Octopussy	Original Club Mix
11	UMEK	Kuzla Prevarantska	Original Club Mix
12	Secret Cinema Vs. Max D-Loved	Wow Cat	Original Club Mix
13	Belocca	Way Of Thinking	Original Club Mix
14	Simon Doty & Eddie Santini	Intellectual Funk	Original Club Mix
15	Sian	Canary In The Coalmine	Bart Skils Remix
16	Sinisa Tamamovic	Breathless	Original Club Mix
17	DJ Chus & Siwell	Circulando	Original Club Mix
18	DJ Fronter	Cambumilla	Original Club Mix
19	Uto Karem	Taking Me	Original Club Mix
20	George Privatti	Stop The Pain	Original Club Mix
21	DJ Shifter	Alright	Original Club Mix
22	Koen Groeneveld	Blue Stratos	Original Club Mix
23	Federico Scavo	Crazy Tool	Paride Saraceni & Dema Remix
24	Unique (CRO) & Adoo	Tonight	Original Club Mix
25	Daniel Sanchez	Awakenings	Original Club Mix
26	Guille Placencia & George Privatti	Compi Bailongo	Original Club Mix
27	Oscar L	Work	Original Club Mix
28	DJ Anna	Keep Going	Original Club Mix
29	Chiqito	Oop Oop	Original Club Mix
30	Dema & Paride Saraceni	Crazy Circus	Original Club Mix
31	Guille Placencia & George Privatti	Terakan	Original Club Mix
32	Carlos Fauvrelle	1999	Ivan Pica Remix
33	Guille Placencia	Guns	Original Club Mix
34	DJ Fronter	Cntrl and Next	Original Club Mix
35	Klelight	Don’t Stop	Jaceo Remix
36	Mar-T	New Skool	Amnesia Terrace Mix
37	Diego Medina	El Anciano	Original Club Mix
38	David Amo, Julio Navas & Rober Gaez	This Is True House	Original Club Mix
39	Gaga	Draw	Original Club Mix
40	Julio (Italy), Markomas	Get Funky	Original Club Mix
41	Grasso & Maxim	Monotone	Original Club Mix
42	Djose Elenko	Se Me Enamora El Alma	Original Club Mix
43	UMEK	Toolroom Knights Mixed By UMEK 2.0	DJ Mix 1
44	UMEK	Toolroom Knights Mixed By UMEK 2.0	DJ Mix 2

http://www.umek.si
http://www.sixteenofive.com
http://www.twitter.com/umek_1605
http://www.soundcloud.com/umek
http://www.mixcloud.com/dj_umek
http://topdeejays.com/umek
https://new.myspace.com/djumek